Structured packing for a reactor

Abstract

A structured packing for a reactor is formed from a metal sheet to promote heat and mass transfer near the wall of the reactor. The structured packing causes lateral flow of fluids flowing through the packing such that jet impingement of at least one reactor wall is promoted. The packing may be used in a cylindrical, annular or plate-type reactor, e.g., a catalytic reactor, or a heat exchanger.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 207,170 filed Feb. 9, 2009. The disclosure of the foregoing application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention pertains to a structured packing for a reactor. The packing may be used in a cylindrical, annular or plate-type reactor, e.g., a catalytic reactor, or a heat exchanger.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Reactors such as chemical reactors and heat exchangers are widely used to promote heat transfer, mass transfer and / or chemical reaction rates. In the case of reactors such as chemical reactors, there is often a need to transfer heat into the reactor (e.g., for endothermic reactions) or to transfer heat from the reactor (e.g., exothermic reactions). In commercial practice, in order to achieve economies of scale, it is desirable to use reactors having large diameters. A high heat transfer coefficient w...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention is a structured packing made by cutting a sheet and folding it into a structure with alternating columns containing vanes. The vanes are positioned in opposite oblique orientation to the reactor axis, causing fluid to alternately impinge on and return from a reactor wall. The columns are separated by straight separating walls, and the vanes are joined to the walls by webs folded from the same sheet. The structured packing can be used in cylindrical, annular, or plate-type heat exchangers. It increases heat transfer by causing fluid to impinge on a reactor wall."

Problems solved by technology

Such packing provides desirable heat transfer and geometric surface area near the reactor walls at desirably low pressure drop, but has the disadvantage of being difficult to manufacture.

The disclosed structure which is designed to cause fluid to flow through adjacent filter sheets is unsuitable for causing fluid to impinge on and deflect back from a wall to provide desirable heat transfer.

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